72-Year-Old Man Who Abused His Grandchild Acquitted

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Mehmet Ali B. (72) has been acquitted in the third hearing of the trial in which he was tried for sexually abusing his 6-year-old grandchild in Torbalı, İzmir.

As the prosecutor’s office demanded that the defendant be penalized over sexual abuse (Turkish Penal Code 103), İzmir 10th Heavy Penal Court stated that the charge pressed against the defendant is composed of doubt. The court ruled acquittal of the defendant on the ground that “It is the defendant who benefits from doubt”.

Mother of the child O.Y. said that they cannot go home because they don’t want to run into Mehmet Ali B. who is living in the same apartment and even a protective order wasn’t issued for Mehmet Ali B., and denounced the verdict of acquittal issued despite pedagogue reports.

Speaking to bianet, lawyer Ayşin Tek stated that they greeted the court’s order with astonishment:

“Victim’s deposition was taken in the first hearing, the witness was heard, defendants and complainants were heard and as a result, continuation of his arrest was ordered. In the second hearing, it was adjourned to today since defendant’s lawyer resigned.

“But even though there was no new development or evidence, an unexpected decision of acquittal was issued despite the prosecutor’s office’s opinion for a penalty to be imposed.

“To be honest, we are very curious about the cause of the acquittal decision of the defendant whose arrest was continuing”.

What happened?

Mehmet Ali B. (72) abusing his 6-year-old grandchild in Torbalı, İzmir had come out. The family filed a criminal complaint to Torbalı Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office in April. Mehmet Ali B. was detained on April 5 and sent to Buca Prison.

Mehmet Ali B. requested home confinement. Stating that they live in the same apartment building, family of the abused child had objected to this request.

On May 23, the court rejected the request and ruled for the continuation of the arrest.

Denying the accusations, defendant Mehmet Ali B. said, “I have diabetes. The diabetics are weak in terms of sexual drive. I don’t feel my hands very much either, I can’t even move my fingers. I’m half paralyzed. I don’t feel anything even if I touch the child”.

The second hearing was adjourned due to a disagreement between the defendant and lawyer. (ZY/ÇT/TK)